Chatback #17

[veggiechicken]

In the middle of a storm here. Feels like being in the tropics. Sheet lightning, rolling thunder, rain so heavy it sounds like hailstones and the heady scent of the lilies in the garden. The road is running like a stream, gutters overflowing and no sign of it moving on.

[Florence Fennel]

Good Morning All and Happy Thursday because it's my last day at work for a while Hot and wet here. Have a good day

[Nicos]

Morning n'alln'all
Darn!... how come you got the rain and we didn't VC?
Must have been the same bank of thunder clouds?
Ah Well.more watering needed still in the garden.

Flo...hate to say this but it's only Wednesday

Off shopping then swimming before it gets too hot!

See you later peeps!

[veggiechicken]

It was wild, haven't seen a storm like it for years. No point going to bed early as I knew I wouldn't sleep with all the flashing and banging.
Water butts are full to the brim again. Garden well watered!
The dogs were surprisingly calm, given the way they bark at fireworks!
Hope you all have the rain that you need and the sun that you want and have a lovely day today.

[Bren In Pots]

Morning no thunder or lightening here just heavy rain that woke me up at around 3am, it was worth it to have my water butts filled.

[Snoop Puss]

Another hot day forecast today, but temperatures should start to drop a bit by Friday. Looking forward to it.

Was thinking about how difficult it is to garden in these conditions. My patch this year is very small in comparison with my usual efforts. But it's been an eye-opener pondering on things. I'm getting through about 2800 litres of water a week at the moment. So that's 60 watering cans a day every day. Last year I had no veg patch at all because of drought. But the year before that, I'd walk 2 km a day just watering. Who needs to do weight training when they're hauling 8 kg of water out of barrels and then trundling it up and down! Used to take me an hour and a half.
But all that is due to change shortly, as next week we will complete my automatic watering system! Then I can actually do some gardening as opposed to just watering.

That said, what little I'm growing is looking really green and is thriving. Less than ideal are the peppers. The plants themselves really are looking amazing, but the peppers themselves are getting sunscald. But, I've got a dozen melons or so expanding by the day and a couple of squash are now pollinated and growing. And I've got an absolutely gorgeous aubergine about ready to pick (before it touches the ground) and lots of others that will be ready soon.

OK, that's enough of that. Really wish we had some of your rain, perhaps just not as hard. Hard rain can be pretty destructive here. Hope your gardens survived the downpours unscathed.

Have a good day, everyone.

[bramble]

Good morning all.
Just sunshine, no rain, thunder or lightening here.
Have a good day all.

[Nicos]

Afternoon!
Had a brill swim. Just making supper then intend to do a bit of weeding when it cools down a tad.
Snoop...had you thought of creating a sun screen with a bit of cloth or woven trellis just to keep the intense sun off your peppers?
The first time I ever saw anything like that was when we were in Israel. Seemed like common sense !

[Snoop Puss]

^ Yes, I have done. In fact we were talking about it this morning. The trouble is that the whole garden could do with it. My courgette plants are now so droopy I find it hard to believe they'll survive. Goodness only knows what the state of the lettuce is. My climbing beans will be frazzled again. I looked from afar, as conditions are not conducive to any time spent outdoors: 44 ºC and strong winds.

[Nannysally99]

If anyone is looking for me - I have melted ....

[Florence Fennel]

Prevening All I made the same mistake at work and gave them Thursday clinics! The medical staff thought I was bonkers, they could be right Anyway I'm on leave tomorrow and I rarely have Thursday off, so that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it

[rary]

Good evening started off dull but humid this morning but by about half one the sun was out anf feeling very warm the temperature was away up at 22cgot the grass cut then decided to alter a couple of my beds, last year I used the large builders bags to hold the soil but I have found them to be unsuitable for my requirements as I had to water the veg plants that were growing in them oftener so I am now emptying them into a raised bed made with concrete slabs, also while checking over (this gold leaf advert is getting worse) my onions i noted that there were several bulbs going to seed they were heat treated sets and I think them shooting has been caused by the mix of highs and lows of temperatures, I have removed the seed heads but will keep the shot ones seperate and use them first
Now can anyone tell me if the Southport show is any good and worth going to see, as I was thinking of having a look at it. Well keep safe with the heat and don't over do it and avoid getting sun burn or heat exhaustion. Goodnight

[Bren In Pots]

Morning
Yesterday it hit 38.7c in our garden it was to hot to be out there for long, the early mornings and evening were the best time to be out there.

[rary]

Good morning, at our sons to watch the boy's who hopefully will sleep till about 3 then the he can get up have their breakfast watch tv for a time have their tea then their mum and dad should be in and we could go home and chance would be a fine thing however it is a nice sunny morning actually quite pleasant just now but please don't overdo things in the high temperatures especially you older Grapes (VC, Nicos please note) me I will be working on replacing the veggie beds, enjoy the day keep safe and keep smiling

[Nicos]

Mornin n'alln'all
Oi you....less of the 'older' rary!.... having said that , you do seem to have a lot of energy for someone of your generation
Stupidly hot here already. At least last night was cooler than the previous one.
We're forecast 41C today...and 21C tomorrow
Ah Well..Tis another Mrs Mop day for me, but I think I'll hold off on the ironing for now.
Yesterday I bought some melons to make jam. I think that will be a tomorrow task too.
Might go for a swim later...might not

Keep cool folks...see ya later!